Opera browser will automatically pop-out videos when you switch to a different tab

Ashwin
Jan 24, 2022
Opera
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20

The Opera 83 update is being rolled out to users in the stable channel. This version introduces a new feature called, automatic video pop-out, aka picture-in-picture mode.

Opera browser will automatically pop-out videos when you switch to a different tab

It is a useful option to have, we have seen other browsers support this natively, including Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi.

Automatic video pop-out in Opera browser

In June 2021, Opera rolled out the R5 update, which brought a feature called video conferencing pop out. It switches the video from normal view, to a compact picture-in-picture mode for some services like Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc. The new automatic video pop-out in Opera 83 is similar to the conferencing feature, except that the former automatically toggles PiP mode for any video that is currently being played.

Let's say you're watching a video on YouTube, but switch to a different tab, the video will be displayed on top of the new tab in a mini-panel. The PiP window has some playback controls to pause/play, control the volume, close the panel. It is a floating window that you can resize, or move around the screen per your requirements.

Switching to the tab which contains the media, e.g. the original YouTube page, will automatically toggle the normal video mode. Jump to a different tab and it pops-out again. That's pretty neat. Users who don't like the automatic video pop-out option can toggle it from the Opera browser settings. Additionally, the page allows you to enable a transparent version of the pop-out player, which can be handy if you like to read the text on a page behind the panel. There are no controls to set the transparency level manually.

Opera browser disable video pop-out

The new feature isn't perfect, as the video pop-out seems to stop working if you close the panel or go back to the source page to pause/resume the media, and switch to a different tab. In this particular scenario, the pop-out does not appear even when you reload the tab. So you will have to either manually trigger the pop-out, or close the tab and open the same video in a new tab.  That's a little annoying, but not a dealbreaker. In my tests, the video pop-out only worked with YouTube, I tried it with Amazon Prime, Steam, Twitter, Dailymotion, but none of these videos triggered the option automatically. The pop-out works with these services if you click the button manually, so it's definitely an issue with the new feature.

Meme Generator

The Snapshot tool in Opera browser now allows you to create memes. To access the option, open the snapshot tool, capture a screenshot, and click on the Meme button on the toolbar. Use it to add some text above and below the image, optionally set the text color, font type, and you can troll the internet with a custom meme. You may save the image locally or copy it to the clipboard. The release notes for the new version are available at the announcement post.

Opera browser meme creator

The Opera 83 update is based on Chromium 97, which, as you may have read, disables the option to delete the default search engines from the pre-configured list, all Chromium-based browsers except Vivaldi are affected by the change. The offline installer of Opera for Windows, Linux, macOS can be downloaded from the official site.

Summary
Opera browser will trigger picture-in-picture mode for when you switch to a new tab
Article Name
Opera browser will trigger picture-in-picture mode for when you switch to a new tab
Description
Opera 83 update adds support for automatic video pop-out. The browser will display a picture-in-picture panel for videos when you switch to a different tab.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Axel said on February 3, 2022 at 9:42 pm
    Reply

    Yesterday, I got the new features when i use the transparency on the picture in picture video pop up. Today, my new update when back to the old one and no longer have the gear with the transparency form stuck on the picture in picture feature. i don’t know what i did here, but if anyone can help me remove the transparency on the picture in picture feature, that would be fine.

  2. microfix said on January 27, 2022 at 10:34 am
    Reply

    To disable pop-out videos:

    Open the Opera browser
    Click on the menu icon and then select Settings.
    Within the search settings box type ‘video pop out’
    Then turn off the switch:
    ‘Automatically pop out videos when possible’

  3. ULBoom said on January 24, 2022 at 9:03 pm
    Reply

    Kids loved junk like this; now they just want it to go away.
    For video calls you can’t escape, this ain’t so bad, easier than two screens.
    Otherwise, just this week’s gimmick.

  4. piomiq said on January 24, 2022 at 8:00 pm
    Reply

    In my humble opinion.
    Looking at the development of Opera, it is going down a slope. getting worse and worse.

    1. Anonymous said on January 25, 2022 at 6:59 am
      Reply

      That implies it was ever good after they switched to chromium

  5. Leopeva64 said on January 24, 2022 at 7:44 pm
    Reply

    Speaking of “Picture in Picture”, it seems that in Chrome and Edge this feature will soon support any type of content (arbitrary HTML content) and not just videos:

    https://redd.it/s7qlkz

    .

    1. Honorius said on January 25, 2022 at 2:05 pm
      Reply

      “Pop-up window” 2.0 ?With google AD this time? No, thanks.

  6. Dorian said on January 24, 2022 at 5:53 pm
    Reply

    These are one interesting feature and the other not so much.
    People complain about this like if you had to use it or couldn’t turn it off.

    What you can’t turn on is Profiles support which is stupid how Opera doesn’t support profiles in 2022.

    They could even have profiles work with the workspaces and be the first one to have something nice, but nah, better a meme generator. I am sure that’s what people asked weekly when they do a “what do you want to see in Opera GX next” LOL and all people commented “meme generator”

    1. Bo said on May 16, 2022 at 9:41 pm
      Reply

      We complain because 1) it’s incredibly inconsiderate and distracting to the user and 2) it’s the default setting

      Why are you defending the indefensible? It may be petty, but there’s no excuse for this.

  7. Henk said on January 24, 2022 at 4:25 pm
    Reply

    I must confess that with my very limited capabilities as a human being, I sadly am not really up to the challenge of actually reading the contents of a webpage in tab B while simultanuously still also watching a video from tab A.

    Therefore, I would much prefer the option where the video in tab A will pause automatically as soon as I open some other tab B, and then will resume automatically once I reopen video tab A.

  8. Tom Hawack said on January 24, 2022 at 4:24 pm
    Reply

    Ive never understood the pertinence of the picture-in-picture mode in the first place, having it pop-out when changing tabs even less.

    I know several video sites which adopt the PiP mode which i cannot avoid when stopping the video before its end, obliging me to open those videos in a new tab (thanks to a dedicated userscript) and close the tab to get free of the sticky PiP video.

    I understand that modern brains are multitask, which means that the lucky owners of such a cortex can simultaneously be tview a video and read an article or develop a substantial argument here on Ghacks or elsewhere. I cannot, unfortunately; background music, ok, but not video. For those of us who can, Opera’s new feaure will be welcomed. And even if I could, I dislike sticky stuff : if I close the video it’s not to have it popped up afterwards, neither is it if I change tabs, in which case the feauture to have that video automatically paused is a feauture I appreciate. No more than that as far as i’m concened. Human nature is plural, need to say.

    1. Henk said on January 24, 2022 at 4:29 pm
      Reply

      Ah Tom, turns out we were saying more or less the same thing at the same time.

      1. Tom Hawack said on January 24, 2022 at 5:11 pm
        Reply

        @Henk, indeed. Maybe did I comment at 4:24.59 PM and you at 4.25.01PM : synchronized brains. People, listen please : Henk and I maybe cannot watch and read simultaneously but we nevertheless have telepathy capabilities. What do you say abouut that?!

        Generally speaking, one thing is to drill (focuse, concentrate, find oil or sand information), another is to scan (information topography). Few of us are able to conduct both (except James Bond of course). This is another good example of why not only all skills are needed, but their cooperation as well. I’ll formulate that next time I search for a beloved : driller seeking for a scanner. With love from somewhre to someone. Amen.

        Side-note @Martin : pages on Ghacks are presently opening very, very slowly.

  9. John G. said on January 24, 2022 at 3:44 pm
    Reply

    Pop-out video is not a bad idea after all. Even Whatsapp allows the same behaviour with no further issues managing videos. The meme generator is a must have in those days for W11. Thanks @Ashwin. :]

  10. lavoris c. said on January 24, 2022 at 3:34 pm
    Reply

    I hate those things…first it’s forced autorun vid ad vids now its ‘picture in picture’. Why do I think the internet is in many (not all) ways a ‘golden opportunity for brainwashing and manipulating human beings’…

  11. Lugo said on January 24, 2022 at 2:43 pm
    Reply

    Meme generator :) Really? No thanks Opera!

  12. Anonymous said on January 24, 2022 at 2:33 pm
    Reply

    as if auto-playing video ads weren’t bad enough

  13. Honorius said on January 24, 2022 at 2:30 pm
    Reply

    > The Opera 83 update is based on Chromium 97, which, as you may have read, disables the option to delete the default search engines from the pre-configured list

    Chropera did not allow you to change, modify the default search engines (or install a custom (not preinstalled) search engine as default) long before this change in Chromium.

    1. anona said on January 25, 2022 at 10:53 am
      Reply

      That’s not entirely correct, you can easily add any custom search engine in Opera and also assign a search keyword for it (e.g. I have “gm London” to search for London in Google Maps).

      1. Honorius said on January 25, 2022 at 1:59 pm
        Reply

        That was entirely correct. Yes, you can add any custom search engine in Opera, but NO, you can’t set it as default. And that is exactly what I wrote in my post above.
        And ability to assign a keyword for custom search engine does not fix that problem.
        For example, the search from the address bar will be exactly in the default search engine. And search suggestions will still be sent to the default search engine and suggestions will be shown from it.
        Having to write a keyword every time to avoid this is masochistic.

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